Inquest will examine final moments of tragic 21-year-old Hartlepool man Adam Thomas

Adam Thomas, 21, was found in Hartlepool Marina four days after he was last spotted in the town’s Church Street.

An inquest into his death will be held on Friday, February 21, at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

It will allow Teesside Coroners’ Court to examine the circumstances surrounding his final known movements and to formally establish how he died.

Police made a number of appeals for help to find Mr Thomas after his disappearance was reported on August 18 last year.

These included releasing a CCTV image which had been taken within Central Buildings, in Church Street, just minutes before he was last seen on August 17 at around 11pm.

Detectives said it was out of character for him not to make contact with his family.

Hartlepool inshore lifeboat carried out a search at the request of police on August 20 before a body was recovered the following day after another investigation took place in waters near the bandstand and Premier Inn.

Police announced the following week that tests had confirmed the remains as those of Mr Thomas.

Floral tributes were soon left on railings near the scene of the investigation after his body was recovered

Dozens of messages of sympathy were also left on our Hartlepool Mail Facebook page.

One, signed from Nana, said: "I was there for your first breath, I wish to God I could have stopped you taking your last."